Why some people are effortlessly more charming and comforting than others

The science behind our affective presence, emotional signatures and psychopathic charms.

Our own way of being has an emotional signature.

Some people can walk into a room and instantly put everyone at ease, or, could heighten stress and tension. This effect is known as affective presence.

Essentially, affective presence is the ability to influence how the people around you feel. Closely related to your emotional intelligence, it is a consistent and measurable part of your personality, and can be in the form of either a positive or negative presence.

Emotions are contagious. If one person feels angry, she may well infect her neighbor with that anger. However, affective presence is an effect one has on others, regardless of one’s own feelings — those with positive affective presence make other people feel good, even if they personally are anxious or sad, and the opposite is true for those with negative affective presence.

“Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something, and has lost something.”

— H. Jackson Brown, Jr.